The questions continue to swirl. I haven't made up my mind about who God says He is, but when you look at life through the lenses of your own circumstances, his character seems questionable. Now, I'd almost bet that most of you Bible-thumping Christians out there just read my last sentence and have already created a calculated response preparing to enlighten me about how God's character is not defined by individual situations. And you would be correct. I know all the right Sunday scho...
Tessa and Sierra are staying with their tia Tenille this weekend. They wanted to learn about blogging, so I'm letting them post an article on my page. Here it goes. We are sisters who live with our aunt. From our early childhood we remember that no one is perfect but God. Tessa says, "My sister thinks she's more perfect than everyone. She thinks that she can sing better than anyone in the whole world, but she can't" Sierra says, "Tessa thinks she is all that. She has a crush on three boy...
"Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly . For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things , holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 I left my Sunday night Bib...
Does it ever seem like your perception of reality is warped? I often feel as though my input sensors are defective when it comes to interpreting conflict and correction. A cloud of insecurity hovers over me, waiting for the right moment to prove what I’ve always feared. I am not enough. Frustration overtakes me when I return to this place of self-doubt. My head tells me my worth is not dependent upon my ability to perform perfectly, but the messages of my past are so deeply woven into ...
I was recently presented with the following question: "Do you have people around you who could never do anything to make you love them less?" I've been pondering this for some time now, and after an unpleasant phone call this evening, a very deep-seeded truth sunk into the recesses of my stubborn heart. You see, I have this insanely, infuriating little sister who knows how to push all of my buttons. In an attempt to play her ridiculous game, I made a wrong move, and ended up lo...
God and Jesus. I suppose these two words are intended to be synonyms. I mean, if you believe in the Trinity (which I do), these separate beings are One. Unfortunately, Jesus is generally portrayed as the more loving, accepting face of God. I can visualize myself crawling into the lap of my Savior when I've screwed up, but God seems more stand-offish and offended by my sin. I'm currently struggling with trust, and this morning I heard an old hymn on the radio. The words rang fresh in m...
I'm just curious to know if other folks out there in this screwed up, dysfuntional world are able to trust in a loving Father who supposedly has our best interest at heart. What is it that we expect from Him?
I wonder if I will be one of those veteran teachers who spend their lives in the classroom? Will I always experience the thrill of anticipation that comes with getting a new group of students? Will my passion for discovery and learning wane? If this is the calling God has for me, does it mean I should pursue further education? Will I wake up some day and feel like this is "just a job" or will I continue to be refreshed by each new challenge? I just completed my sixth, First Day of School....
Accepting the things I cannot change . . . I suppose the goal of an Alcoholic Anonymous and Al-anon Family Group mountain conference is not designed to irritate you, but I've found myself quite conflicted this week. You see, I am a little pissed off about God's decision making skills. Apparently, He thought it necessary for me to be born into a family with a long history of alcoholism. I am not okay with this. As a kid growing up in a highly dysfuntional home, I knew we had the funk...
Doesn't this look like fun? My Mexican dentist was amazing, but boy was my mouth sore! Everybody has to have a chipmunk picture. I tried to be a trooper, but tears flowed. This is me a week later. Since the previous picture was so pathetic, I figured I should try to redeem myself. Bring on the FUN! This is me and my family. Aren't we all good lookin'? I'm glad you can freeze a moment in time with a photograph. My little brother was the life...
Summer is slowly slipping away, and I decided I should pause long enough to record a few memorable events. I completed a marathon trip to Victoria, Mexico where I bravely subjected myself to the extraction of four wisdom teeth. I wouldn't call it a vacation, but a much-needed chore was accomplished and my bank account dodged a $4,000 dollar bullet! Upon my return, I decided to make a mad dash trip to the Texas Panhandle in order to celebrate my oldest sister's thirtieth birthday. All of my si...
My, oh so wonderful, Bible study leader, Bruce Grinstead graciously allowed me to begin reading his copy of Velvet Elvis the other night. I was enthralled with what Rob Bell had to say in the introduction, so I checked his book out at the library today. This afternoon I read a statement that ushered in a huge sense of freedom. Perhaps it won't hit you in the same way it challenged me, but I figured it was worth sharing. Bring on the questions! "It's not so much that the Christian faith...
I spend most of my life focusing on the small pieces of the puzzle and not nearly enough time looking at the end result. Tonight, God gave me a glimpse of the "big picture", and I figured reflection would help me remember that which is so easily forgotten. My birthday is exactly six days away, and already, I have had two surprise parties and acquired a nice stack of giftcards to my favorite shopping spots. On two separate occasions, my teacher friends and my church friends joined me at...
Was Jesus intolerant? Are acceptance and approval the same thing? Does loving someone mean looking past their sin? Is it possible to truly separate a person’s actions from their character? If Christ hung out with the “undesirables”, does that mean I should too? Can two people with opposing convictions maintain a healthy relationship? Does growing up as a Christian mean truth gets blurry? Can I quiet the noise of the church long enough to hear the Voice of God? Are there really any right an...
I've never really considered myself a "fun" person. You know the life of the party type folks are instantly attracted to. I've always watched longingly from the sidelines wishing I could be boisterous and energetic, a social butterfly with brightly colored wings. You see, it’s people like this who seem so confident and secure. I want what they have, but I’m slowly learning I’ve got exactly what I need to be the ME God created. In the last few months my “fun factor” has come into questio...